Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Today's post will be brief as I am still recovering from the awesomeness that was Spectrum Live 2012.

I can't remember the last time I have had so much fun. Apart from how great it is to get together with old friends and see what everyone has been up to this whole time, it was great to meet so many new artists that came out for this event.

It was also really great to see so many of the European artists make it out. There is just so much talent in Europe but it seems like we rarely ever get to cross paths with them, which is a shame.

Jean-Baptiste Monge, Paul Bonner and Petar Meseldzija all came.

Monge did a watercolor demo that I showed up for a half hour early because, well... it's J.B. Monge.

Bonner brought some really wonderful prints, a new sketchbook and a few of his flabbergastingly detailed originals. (I offered him my car as a trade at one point.)

And Petar brought some of the most gorgeous oil paintings I have ever seen.

Every time I go to these events I get extremely depressed at how amazing all the other artist's work is and wondering what I have been doing all these years. But I also leave extremely inspired and eager to try new approaches and start on new images. I am really looking forward to getting started on some new work.

Friday, May 18, 2012

We biked the whole country armed with nothing but a compass and our manly wits...

...And remarkably, we only got lost 467 times over the course of 9 days of biking.

What is more remarkable is that it really is possible to see all of Switzerland by bike. Their bike trails are (almost all) very well marked, and offer great scenic routes between all the major cities and places of interest. And many of these routes are on back trails or cart paths through forests or fields of flowers.

It was one of the best trips I have taken. Especially the Interlaken area. Lauterbrunnen (pictured above) may well be the most beautiful place I have ever been on earth. Five stars. Would go back.